Rumours that Downton Abbey might be about to bid us a fond farewell have been quashed by the series' executive producer Gareth Neame.

Earlier this week Julian Fellowes sparked speculation (or more accurately, panic) after saying: "I don't know yet if there is a season six, but it's not going to go on for ever."

But, thanks to Neame, we can breathe a long sigh of relief.

"I can confirm that there are no plans to end the show after the fifth series," says the show's executive producer in an official statement.

"ITV commission each series on a year-by-year basis," he continued. "In an interview given to the Wall Street Journal (published 31.12.13), Julian Fellowes stated that the show would not go on forever (inevitable of course and something both he and I have been on the record for previously).

"For now ITV have commissioned series five and that is what we are busy preparing."

Opinion was divided when rumours about the show's cancellation began circulating, with some fans saying the end of series five might be the right time for the drama to bow out. (We obviously didn't agree: here's seven reasons why). The cancellation of the drama would upset plenty of viewers, though - the show remains incredibly popular both in the UK and in the US, where the fourth series premiered to record breaking ratings at the weekend.